Why would I use a third party LTL freight shipping transportation firm like MoveFreight when I can often just call a trucking company directly?

MoveFreight has contracts in place with several larger and independent carriers all of whom offer us excellent rates that we can pass on to you. Our firm is offered deep discounts by the trucking companies because of the volume of business we are able to bring them. Most of the time you will find that the rate quoted to you by MoveFreight is less than if you called the carrier direct because of the concept of “economies of scale.” In addition, MoveFreight and our LTL freight shipping deals directly with the carrier for issues such as tracing & tracking, over/short & damages, improperly routed shipments, etc. Since we are in the industry and used to communicating with carriers on a daily basis, we know how to get answers and achieve things that may frustrate the average shipper.

Why are so many companies turning to third party transportation firms to transport their goods?

In addition to the answer given in question #1, a third party transportation firm is a one stop shop solution. Instead of calling one carrier to transport your goods that require an enclosed dry van and another to transport your flatbed goods then ANOTHER for your expedited or guaranteed shipments, you can call us and we can handle all aspects of your LTL freight shipping and other transportation requirements. Quite often our customers are so busy dealing with the day to day duties of their business that they do not have time to call other people and locations to get the shipment information & details. All we need is a telephone number of the location where the goods are located. We can contact the pick up location and get all the details of the order so you do not have to. We then come back to you and discuss time requirements, additional details and offer you a rate for the shipment. If you like the LTL freight shipping rate, you can book it right then and there or log onto our site and book the load entirely online.

Does MoveFreight carry the cargo insurance required for the load?

MoveFreight itself does not carry the cargo insurance required to transport the loads. However, we do not work with ANY carriers that do not provide us with proof of active, valid insurance. We keep this information on file here in our corporate office and can provide proof of insurance upon request. In addition, MoveFreight has a strict policy in place where we refuse to work with carriers that have less than an A or a B safety and performance rating. These ratings and insurance requirements are requested BEFORE any new carrier is accepted as a new MoveFreight approved carrier.

I have never heard of MoveFreight. How do we know you are a reputable company?

We invite all of our customers to thoroughly investigate our background and business practices. MoveFreight is proud to have at all times a 95%-100% credit rating; we pay all of our carriers in a timely fashion. We invite customers to go online to any search engine and type in “reviews for MoveFreight” and see what comes back. Since we are dealing with vendors on a daily basis we know how important it is to trust the company you are working with. We can also provide references from customers that have worked with us in the past. Please check out our testimonials page to see what others think of our services.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept, VISA & M/C, American Express, and Discover. If you have regular shipments you can fill out a credit application and open an account with terms of net 30 upon approval. We also offer payment via COD, money order, wire transfers, and check by fax/phone/e-mail.

Who do I call if I need to track a shipment?

You can call us directly at toll free 877-898-7447 (SHIP), or visit our site at www.movefreight.com and click on “shipment tracking.” You will need to enter the load number that was given to you when the shipment was quoted. If you have specific, detailed questions or requests related to the delivery you can call us at toll free 877-898-7447 (SHIP) or send an e-mail to info@movefreight.com referring to your specific load number.

Does the rate I am quoted ever change after the goods are picked up?

Any trucking or transportation firm who tells you there is no chance of the quoted rate being different than the final rate is not telling you the truth. MOST of the time the quoted rate is also the invoiced rate. However, there are times when the weight or class provided by the customer is not accurate or the shipment required some other type of service that was not included in the original quote. It IS NOT our practice to increase the rate for no reason. We make the customer aware of the additional charges as soon as they are brought to our attention and we ALWAYS provide proof by way of weight certificate or delivery receipt. We KNOW that operating in an honest fashion will keep customers coming back.

What happens if my goods are damaged during transport?

MoveFreight will usually know before you do if the goods are damaged during transportation because we track all our shipments daily. In the event of damage, we first call the carrier to see how the goods were signed for. If damage was noted on the bill of lading, or delivery receipt at the time of delivery, we will file a claim directly with the carrier using the invoice for replacement provided to us by the customer. When MoveFreight is paid on the claim we will either issue you a credit memo that can be used for future shipments or send you a check directly. This takes the pain and hassle off of our customers of having to file a claim with the carrier directly.

Does MoveFreight offer any incentives for referring other companies to them?

YES! A considerable amount of our business is from referrals. We offer the company who referred new customers to us a 5% discount on any shipment regardless of the amount of that invoice.

How Has COVID Affected the Shipping Industry?

Shipping Industry Shipping and logistics has always been an industry sensitive to the going ons of the world. COVID-19, or coronavirus, has impacted nearly every industry in ways large and small, we are no exception. LTL shipping has always been valued for its flexibility compared to other shipping options.

Delay in Administrative Affairs and Invoicing

While this is certainly a case by case thing that depends on the company, as a whole, communications have become delayed or muddled from the disruption to various systems because of COVID. People working remotely when they are not accustomed to it, there may be changes in staff and even basic person to person functions must respect social distancing requirements.

These minor changes and alterations to communication can result in administrative inconsistencies which affect invoicing and office functionality.

Strict Health Regulations Can Suddenly Alter Shipping Industry Logistics

If a worker in a terminal tests positive for COVID, it can significantly delay or shutdown a terminal depending on how much contact that worker had with others and what shifts they work. It is in the nature of logistics and shipping to be interconnected, and that goes for the workers too. In this case, that works against the process as a positive test could lead to a one to two week delay in some respects.

Service Guarantees Are Out the Window

Many shipping companies once prided themselves on their shipping guarantee for arrival at a certain date. As a service, this is nigh impossible to guarantee any longer because of the sheer uncertainty of whether parts of the chain will operate as intended. While guaranteed shipments are temporarily suspended in most cases, shippers will still place greater focus on moving along shipments that have been designated to be expedited.

No Touch Delivery Receipts

The vast majority of delivery based businesses have incorporated some form of non-touch delivery confirmations as part of their efforts to limit unnecessary contact due to COVID. Shipping is no exception as much of the integrity of the logistics chain depends on the adequate checking and signing of invoices, delivery receipts, etc. While this is a perfectly acceptable stop-gap solution, many are concerned at the effect this may have in the long term when trying to verify the integrity of thousands of deliveries over time. The concern is that delivery receipts and other such paperwork will not be adequately handled as contact time between two individuals is limited.

Shipping Industry Logistics Going Forward in the COVID Era

The logistics industry is one of the most flexible and adaptive industries out there. The history of the industry has been nothing but tales of adapting to rapidly changing circumstances, LTL shipping is no exception. While many changes will occur to accommodate any unfolding events in safety or public health, how shipping proceeds is largely dependent on the items themselves.

For example, the businesses that have steadily remained open have been relatively unimpacted because supply concerns were never an issue. For example, there has been a little delay in the shipment of medical supplies—quite the opposite, shortages have been a result in product being quickly moved around.

LTL Shipping Glendale CA

At Move Freight, we pride ourselves on our intimate knowledge of the shipping industry. Third-party transportation offers many advantages over calling a trucking company or other methods of moving your freight. LTL shipping takes advantage of economies of scale to provide the most affordable and convenient shipping experience for your business. Contact us today or request a quote online!